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Bite lift

What is bite height and how is it corrected?

We work as a team with the orthopedist at all stages

Treatment periods from 8 months

Bite height — is the distance between the jaws when the maximum number of existing teeth are in full contact. Bite height affects dental health and facial aesthetics.

Decreased bite height

Decreased bite is characterized by a distance of more than 2-3 mm between the teeth, when the jaw in a relaxed state. Since teeth — is a kind of framework for the soft tissues of the face, bite height disorders, affect the appearance of the person: the oval of the face changes, the contour becomes less clear, the corners of the mouth lowered, nasolabial folds deepen.

Causes of decreased bite height

Pathological abrasion of hard tooth tissues
Uneven load (the habit of chewing food on one side)
Missing teeth
The presence of untenable fillings or orthopedic structures on chewing teeth

Bite Height Elevation

Bite height elevation is less common and occurs most often due to the presence of improperly planned orthotics.

Changes in bite height can negatively affect not only the health of the teeth and soft tissues of the face, but also the temporomandibular joint, leading to its overload. Therefore, if you have any external signs of such changes, it is important to consult a specialist for a competent comprehensive treatment.

Bite Height Diagnosis

There are two ways to determine bite height.

Anatomical

In modern dentistry, this research method is considered subjective, so it is practically not used at the present time.

The dentist analyzes the anatomy of the lower third of the face in a calm state and during function. Visually, the decrease in bite height can be determined by the following external signs:

sinking of the lips
increasing the depth of the nasolabial folds
pushing the chin forward
reducing the height of the lower part of the face

When using the anatomical method, attention is also paid to how the soft tissues look during function:

the lips should remain in a mobile state, and also touch each other along the entire length without effort
the activity of the circular muscle of the mouth should be high
the corners of the lips should be slightly raised

Anatomo-physiologic

The height of the bite is determined by the physiologic resting height — the distance between the teeth when the muscles are relaxed and the teeth do not close together. Normally, this height is about 2-3 mm.

The dentist makes two marks on the patient's skin — at the base of the nasal septum and in the center of the chin. The patient then makes a couple of swallowing movements, after which the lower jaw assumes a physiologic resting position. The lips are in contact with each other without tension, the nasolabial folds are moderately pronounced. A special ruler is used to measure the distance between the two points. After the measurement, special templates are placed in the patient's mouth, which should be slightly bitten. The doctor measures the distance between the points on the nose and chin again.

The result determines the height of the teeth. Normally it should be less than the physiological resting height by 2-3 mm. If this indicator is less than 2-3 mm, the bite is overbite, if more, there is an underbite.

Comprehensive treatment to raise the bite

In our clinic, a comprehensive approach is used to correct reduced bite height. Treatment involves several main stages.

Diagnosis

To formulate a comprehensive treatment plan, all diagnostic data will need to be collected:

A photoprotocol to assess the closure of teeth and the general aesthetics of the soft tissues of the face.
Digital dental scanning is a 3D model of teeth, according to which the doctor will be able to assess the closure of teeth and simulate further treatment.
A CT scan that analyzes the condition of teeth, bone tissue, and the position of the joint.

Once diagnostic data is collected, orthodontists, orthopedists and surgeons are involved in treatment planning. The orthodontist is responsible for the planning. He models the final result to be achieved and gives the orthodontists and surgeons the terms of reference.

Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic preparation for implants and prosthetics is necessary if the patient has an improper bite, crowding or lack of space for rational prosthetics and implants.

The patient will undergo orthodontic treatment with braces or eliners depending on clinical indications and their own choice. The result of orthodontic treatment will be a position of the teeth in which the surgeon can place the implants in the correct position (if necessary) and the prosthodontist can make physiologically correct restorations.

Surgical treatment

Often a decrease in bite height is caused by missing teeth in the lateral regions. The most reliable method of restoration — is implantation — the placement of an artificial tooth root. If there is enough space for implantation initially or if it has been prepared orthodontically, the dental surgeon places the implant in the desired position for the subsequent prosthetics.

Orthopedic restoration of teeth

After the orthodontic and surgical stages are completed, the patient is referred to an orthopedic dentist for further prosthetic treatment with permanent restorations. Depending on the clinical picture, different types of designs are used:

Inlays — small restorations that partially cover the tooth. They are used on chewing teeth to recreate the correct shape of the chewing surface and restore the bite height.
Ceramic crowns — restorations that fully restore the shape, placed on the root of your own tooth or an implant.
Veneers — ceramic restorations to restore the shape of the tooth and the height of the bite in the anterior section.

Ceramic restorations eventually fix the result of raising the bite and stabilize the height.

Results of a bite lift

We will analyze for you a case of complex treatment of a patient with a reduced bite in order to restore the aesthetics and function of teeth.

The patient addressed the problems of tooth abrasion, smile aesthetics and joint pain. Previously, the patient had orthodontic treatment, as a result of which it was possible to create a correct bite. But after a few years, due to the patient's refusal of the retainers, a relapse occurred.

During the diagnosis, the following problems were identified:

Distal occlusion
Retrusion (teeth are filled in)
Joint dysfunction
Lateral teeth to be removed and then implanted
Tooth erasability

The first step was splint therapy with a joint splint to return the joint to its correct and functional position.

The next step was orthodontic treatment with metal braces. The objectives of the treatment were:

Expansion of the dentition
Creating the correct inclination of the teeth
Creating a place for implantation and prosthetics.

Orthodontic treatment took less than a year. Afterwards, bone grafting and implantation of tooth 36 was performed. Also, laser correction of the gingival contour was required for future restorations.

Indirect bite elevation was accomplished with ceramic restorations on all teeth. E.max crowns were placed in the lateral areas and E.max crowns in the anterior area — veneers E.max

Doctor's opinion

Orthodontic training leader, orthodontist

Mahonina Maria Sergeevna

In most cases, bite height correction — is a complex task. The orthodontist creates the correct alignment, the prosthodontist restores the correct shape of teeth or missing teeth. This is the only way we can get a result that will last the patient for many years.

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